Senior Transportation Engineer/Planner

Who is W-Trans?

W-Trans provides traffic engineering and transportation planning services throughout California with an emphasis on the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California. We currently have offices in Santa Rosa (Sonoma County) and downtown Oakland, with plans to open an office in Sacramento in 2026. We specialize in projects that create more livable streets and sustainable transportation systems that emphasize a fully multi-modal approach. W-Trans continues to serve existing and new clients in the Bay Area and increasingly works on projects in the Central Valley and Sacramento. We particularly welcome the opportunity to chat with prospective candidates who are currently located in Northern California or who would like to relocate to the region.

Work on progressive transportation projects and experience true work-life balance

W-Trans is seeking a Senior Transportation Engineer or Planner that is ready to work on a diverse range of projects for our expanding client base. Work-life balance isn’t just a cliche at W-Trans… it’s a fundamental part of who we are.

What does balancing your professional and personal lifestyle mean? The answer is different for everyone. For many W-Trans employees, it means actually working a 40-hour work week on average. It means having the flexibility to work remotely three days a week if you choose, and the ability to work flexible hours that fit your lifestyle and family needs, such as a “9/80” schedule with every other Friday off. It means producing great work that you find professionally fulfilling, having a passion for finding sustainable transportation solutions to complex problems and perhaps looking at transportation differently than our profession did in the past.

About the Role

W-Trans is seeking a Senior Transportation Engineer or Planner who would be based in the SF Bay Area or Sacramento.

The successful candidate will win and manage transportation projects such as EIRs, On-Call contracts, TIAs, Specific Plans, School Safety and other related projects. W-Trans has a long history of traffic operations and transportation impact analysis work and values an approach that marries technical expertise with creative and nuanced solutions. This person likely enjoys the opportunity to bring all their skills to their job – organizational skills for managing projects, engineering expertise, communication skills to build consensus, and an outlet for their curiosity and creativity to both understand and solve tangible issues in our communities’ transportation systems. This position involves interacting with clients, teaming partners, and the public, making important the ability to engage in technical discussions, manage relationships, and effectively explain challenges and alternatives to stakeholders in non-technical terms. Another aspect of this position is the mentorship of W-Trans staff. We have competent engineers and planners with experience contributing to and managing transportation projects, and it is important to W-Trans to support their continued growth and development as future stewards of transportation networks that are accessible for all users.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in civil engineering or planning, with an emphasis in transportation.
• A valid driver’s license and ability to perform site visits , “walk audits,” and attend public hearings.
  • Note, these requirements may be adjusted as needed to make necessary accommodation; however, visiting project sites and attending hearings are integral parts of this position.
• Minimum of ten years of professional experience related to traffic operations, transportation planning and impact analysis.
• Deep familiarity with the transportation impact specialty area, demonstrated by:
  • An established professional network; and
  • Strong familiarity with TIA Guidelines, Caltrans, HCM, VMT, Trip and Parking Generation, Site Design, and Active Transportation standards.
• Working knowledge of Synchro, Vistro, SIDRA, and other operational analysis programs and their outputs.
• Experience managing transportation studies for both small and major projects as well as CEQA transportation assessments, with the following demonstrative skills:
  • Managing teams, including subconsultants, to achieve project goals within budgetary and schedule constraints;
  • Identifying and evaluating complex issues; and
  • Applying a creative approach to developing tailored technical solutions.
• Experience preparing successful proposals.
• Strong writing skills in both technical and non-technical styles.
• Excellent communication skills including experience with teaming partners, client and public agency interactions, public meeting presentations, and/or workshop facilitation.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience overseeing, training, and mentoring staff.
• Consultant experience in Northern California (includes SF Bay Area and Sacramento region).
• Experience integrating equity considerations of the transportation system during evaluation and development stages of transportation studies.
• CA PE license in Traffic or Civil Engineering is desired, as this person should be able to evaluate feasibility and operational aspects of projects, as well as stamp reports; however, a person with strong traffic operations, transportation planning and impact analysis qualifications would be considered.

Benefits and Compensation

W-Trans prides itself on maintaining a highly-collaborative, employee-focused workplace and offers the following to its staff:

Salary range of $135,000 to $175,000 per year

• Full Benefits package with 100 percent coverage of certain medical and dental plans for employee and dependents, and 90 percent coverage for spouses
• Choice of either HMO or PPO healthcare plans
• 401k plan with 4 percent employer match
• A path to firm ownership, including profit-sharing for owners
• Company commitment to sharing financial success through generous employee bonuses
• Vacation accrual starting at 2 weeks and increasing with tenure starting after three years
• Two weeks of sick leave annually
• Nine holidays, including two “floating” holidays to accommodate personal celebrations
• Hybrid work schedule with three days per week of remote work if desired (negotiable based on position and residence location)
• Flexible work hours, including option to work a traditional 40-hour work week or a 9/80 schedule and the ability to flex time over a month rather than just a pay period
• Average 78 percent billing goal

An employee-owned company with almost 75 percent of staff currently having ownership, W-Trans cultivates an employee-first work environment and culture. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive organization; therefore, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, family status, or veteran status, and are encouraged to apply!

To apply, please e-mail a letter of interest, resume, writing sample, and references to info@w-trans.com.

Additional opportunities to join W-Trans can be found on our website at w-trans.com/about-the-company/job-openings/.